"He has no intention of graduating early for the time being."
"Hm..." Yamamoto stared at the Headmaster and slowly asked, "Why?"
Had the nobles moved so quickly? He had only just received word of Masatsuki Aozaki's talent, yet had the boy already been drawn in by their offers, choosing to reject the Gotei 13?
As the de facto ruler of the largest military force in Seireitei, Yamamoto was unwavering in his loyalty to the royal family and the noble hierarchy. This was common knowledge, and it was precisely this that emboldened the noble families to scheme under his very nose.
He upheld the laws of Soul Society with absolute discipline, and he had no personal need to cultivate or expand his own influence.
The only reason he wished to recruit Masatsuki Aozaki was to prevent such a prodigy—one who even surpassed Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake—from being entangled in the nobles' meaningless power struggles, reduced from a once-in-a-millennium talent to nothing more than a tool for their ambitions.
So then... which family had set their sights on Masatsuki Aozaki?
The ambitious Tsunayashiro Clan?
The Kasumiōji Clan, desperate to rise to the ranks of the Four Great Noble Houses?
Or...
Yamamoto's gaze fell upon the document, scanning the section listing the boy's teachers.
Or was it the Kuchiki Clan, represented by Sōjun Kuchiki—taking advantage of their proximity to secure him first?
If it was the Kuchiki family, that would be acceptable.
While they had been reluctantly drawn into noble politics, Ginrei Kuchiki was not only an old friend but also a symbol of noble integrity. The Kuchiki Clan would not squander such talent.
The Kasumiōji Clan was tolerable at best. Their methods were relatively mild.
But if Masatsuki fell into the hands of the Tsunayashiro Clan… then he would be truly ruined.
"He believes he is not yet skilled enough and wishes to continue his studies at Shin'ō Academy."
The Headmaster swallowed nervously and added, "It seems he has no intention of leaving anytime soon."
The atmosphere in the room grew inexplicably colder.
"...No nobles have approached him?"
Realizing what Yamamoto was worried about, the Headmaster let out a quiet breath of relief.
"Rest assured, Captain-Commander. I have been monitoring Masatsuki Aozaki since his enrollment."
"The only individuals who have had close contact with him recently are two instructors and two friends from his hometown."
"I am familiar with Kuchiki-sensei's character. He would never cross the line. As for the other instructor, her relationship with Masatsuki Aozaki is purely professional."
The Headmaster nodded to himself.
Well… purely a bond between souls.
Yamamoto leaned back in his seat, silent in thought.
The Headmaster, sensing the weight of the moment, quietly approached the tea table and poured Yamamoto a cup of tea. His movements were practiced—clearly, this was not the first time he had performed such a task.
Time passed in silence, long enough that the Headmaster began to feel restless just standing there.
Then, suddenly, Yamamoto spoke.
"Since the boy enjoys studying, have him come to the 1st Division after class. I will personally teach him what it means to be a true Shinigami."
"I will have the Ritei-tai notify him. You may return."
The Headmaster froze for a moment—then his eyes flashed with excitement.
The Captain-Commander… personally mentoring Masatsuki Aozaki?!
Having him report to the 1st Division wasn't just about training. It was also about evaluation—and protection.
And after that evaluation was complete…
The possibilities were too overwhelming to even dare consider.
Why wasn't I born with such talent?
If I had been, then it wouldn't have been Chōjirō Sasakibe standing by the Captain-Commander's side all these years—it would have been me, Sato Keito.
Sighing inwardly, the Headmaster turned and left the Captain's quarters.
...
"I will confirm this once more: Shin'ō Academy student Masatsuki Aozaki, do you wish to go to the 1st Division to learn?"
"I do."
Masatsuki immediately gave a firm response as he looked at the Ritei-tai's messenger.
After all, this was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto—the strongest Shinigami of the past thousand years, a true master of all disciplines, standing at the absolute pinnacle of the Shinigami. There was no better teacher in all of Soul Society.
Not to mention, as the leader of the Gotei 13, forming a good relationship with him would save Masatsuki a lot of trouble—at the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about nobles trying to drag him into their schemes.
Watching the messenger disappear into the distance, Masatsuki turned back toward his dormitory.
The moment he stepped inside, Rangiku Matsumoto dropped the snacks in her hands and tackled him in a hug.
"Masatsuki, was that the Ritei-tai just now?"
"Yeah. Captain-Commander Yamamoto wants me to go to the 1st Division once a week. He'll be personally guiding my training."
Masatsuki made no effort to hide it—nor did he want to. The more people who knew, the less trouble he'd have to deal with.
"You mean... Captain-Commander Yamamoto took you as his disciple?" Rangiku asked excitedly, bouncing on top of him.
"He didn't say anything about taking me as a disciple, just that he'd be instructing me in training." Lying back on the sofa, Masatsuki reached out to steady Rangiku before she got too carried away and tumbled off.
Rangiku straightened up, tapped her chin in thought, then gave him a puzzled look. "So... it's like extra lessons from the Captain-Commander?"
Masatsuki found the phrasing a little odd—it reminded him of Yui-sensei. Still, he poked Rangiku's cheek and nodded. "Something like that."
"That's not much different from being a disciple! You're basically an unofficial student of Captain-Commander Yamamoto."
Rangiku recalled the stories Masatsuki had told her about great sects and their different types of disciples. In her mind, this situation definitely counted as an unregistered disciple.
"If you're getting personal training from the Captain-Commander, you'll be super strong in no time! That means I can slack off, right?"
"Absolutely not. You cannot slack off in your training."
Masatsuki sighed.
"Rangiku... do you know why I brought you to Shin'ō Academy?"
"I do! Because Masatsuki is a lolicon and can't live without me!"
"..."
Masatsuki rubbed his forehead, exasperated.
"That's... part of it, but not entirely. I'm into all ages."
"Wait, no, that's not what I meant to say."
He took a deep breath and continued.
"The real reason is that there's a monster in Rukongai—a man with a beast's heart."
"You have something inside you that's incredibly important to him. He just doesn't realize its value yet."
"To be safe, you must train hard. Strength is the key to survival."
His tone grew heavier as he placed a firm hand on Rangiku's chest.
Within this small body was a fragment of the Soul King—something the Hōgyoku desperately required.
Masatsuki was certain. If Rangiku Matsumoto carried the Soul King's Nail, then there was no way she lacked talent.
...
Night fell in silence.
In the vast mansion, Masatsuki and the young Rangiku lay on the sofa, staring at each other wordlessly.
Having grown up in Rukongai, where she had endured nothing but hunger, cold stares, and rejection, Rangiku had never imagined that someone like her—who once had nothing—could possess something that a certain great villain considered priceless.
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